The ride home was quiet, aside from the gentle ringing in my ears that blocked out most of Claire and Vince's light conversations. Tears blurred the world around me, isolating me in this state of solitude. If I stayed in this bubble, I'd live forever with memories of Caleb and me. It would be like he never left.

A warm hand on mine and the soft whispering of my name pulled me back to this empty reality. Caleb's plane had to have taken off already and he could be gone from Manitoba's airspace. Soon he'd disappear from Canada too. More tears repelled my cheeks like they'd been practicing it for a lifetime.

"We're home. Did you want to stay for a bit?" Claire asked.

I opened my mouth, but no words came out.

"I can't imagine you slept well. Maybe some rest will help?" Vince said, his glance darting to his wife. "The guest room is all yours."

Could I return there now that Caleb was gone? Would I feel anything but his absence?

But as my shaky limbs got my body out of their SUV, I admitted Vince was right. I would need sleep even if it took an ocean's worth of tears to lie in that bed alone on the cold sheets.

Caleb kept his promise and called me from Vancouver. He'd somehow gotten Claire and Vince to pick up a box of 20 honey cruller Timbits for me so we could both get a sugar high as we chatted during his layover. He was retracing our steps to Hong Kong next, and we spent most of our chat reliving the piano serenades and delicious duck dish. He even promised to sing me a song while he was there.

It was hard to believe we were little more than strangers then and yet had been so honest. I hoped I could keep that up with him, even with this distance.

"By the way." He dug into his pocket and showed me the polar bear journal. "Thank you for this. I almost ran back through security to hug you, but that bloody line stopped me."

"It's not much, but I thought it might help."

"It's everything, and it really did." He tucked it away again. "Have you returned to your parents' place yet?" he asked.

I shook my head, which was nestled in Claire's cozy pillow.

"Let me know after you do."

"Why? You're that worried?"

"Nah, when you see, you'll know why."

That statement made me far too curious, and Claire drove me there while my parents were working. Everything looked normal in the living room and kitchen. I climbed the stairs to my bedroom and opened the door slowly.

No wild animals awaited me inside, and most of the area was in a tidier state than I'd left it. Though as I approached my desk, three framed photos and an album lay across it. There was the photo of Caleb and me kayaking when that woman thought we were engaged, the northern lights couple's pose our guide had taken of us, and another he must have pulled from social media. It was a picture of me on a dive boat with the first group I'd ever led in Thailand.

I wanted to embrace him so badly right now. Not only were we important to him, but he valued the career I loved too.

Sitting on the album was a letter with my name written in Caleb's neat handwriting. I opened it, careful not to tear the envelope.

Audrey,

Today I had to make an impossible choice. I hope you don't hate me because of it. If I could be in two places at once, I would still have my arms around you. But knowing your kind and understanding heart, you'll see why I couldn't be away from Lily any longer.

Since I can't be with you in person, I wanted to be there in spirit. Your dad helped me print out our journey together, from our first moments at the airports and house to the wedding (where you took my breath away and were my rock), to the trip where you pushed me past my fears and insecurities and showed me how beautiful our life together could be. This is the first of many albums I hope to fill with photos of the amazing adventures and life we'll share.

Yours for a lifetime,

Caleb

As I clutched the paper to my chest and a silent sob tore through me, Claire knocked on the door. I invited her in with a nod, and she sat with me on the bed.

"How are you doing?"

"Why is it that something can be so amazing and get cut short by shitty circumstances?"

She squeezed my hand. "It is shitty, but it's not like that forever."

"How do I... I don't want to be this person... But I'm scared. So many things could go wrong with us, with his sister..."

"You can't think of it all at once. Take it one day at a time. Today, focus on how lucky you are that this man, with his limited time in Manitoba, made a shrine to your relationship to comfort you."

"I can't believe he did this."

"It's incredible."

"He's incredible."

Claire beamed. "I love how much he loves you."

"Me too."

She pulled me into a side-hug, and I rested my head against her shoulder.

"Will you be okay staying here?" she asked.

I nodded.

"I never realized that you were so unhappy in this house. Why didn't you ever tell me?"

"It felt disrespectful to complain about having a tense relationship with a healthy parent after everything with your dad."

"I wouldn't have taken it that way. Friends are supposed to be here for each other. Did you talk to anyone about it?"

"Just Caleb."

"It's a damn good thing we invited you both to the wedding." We both smiled. "But jokes aside, you can talk to me, and our housing offer is still open."

"Thanks Claire." I gave her a warm hug that helped with some of the ache and tension in my chest. "I'll see how bad things get here first as I haven't visited with them much without Caleb. With everything going on, I should be able to stand up for myself. If it goes terribly, I'll be on your doorstep."

"Keep me posted either way. I like to know what's happening in your life and would love to host you."

Once I'd talked to both Nigel and Trevor, and confirmed I'd be starting the job on Thursday, I knew I'd have to sit down and talk to my parents about my plans for the future. I channeled all of Caleb's belief in me as well as my own as I sat down to supper with my family.

My mom cut up her porkchop. "So Caleb got to the airport alright?"

I nodded and looked at mine with little appetite.

"Have his flights gone well?"

"He's heading to Hong Kong at the moment. It's a 13-hour flight. He'll get there later soon."

It was the longest we'd ever gone without talking to each other since we met. I missed his anecdotes, gentle touches, and adoration, especially as of lately.

"Not one you're looking forward to, I imagine," my dad said with a chuckle.

I smiled despite the tension radiating up to my forehead. "It's not my favourite." But when I took it to get to Australia, it would be worth it. "I was meaning to talk to you about the flights."

My mom waved off my comment. "I've told you that you don't need to pay us back for it, Audrey. Don't even worry about that."

"Thanks Mom. I want to and plan to, but it's something different."

They both put their utensils down to look at me.

"I was hoping to stay in Canada longer, not permanently, but longer."

My mom broke into an almost full smile. "Oh sweetie, that's wonderful. We can change the tickets tonight."

"It's more of an indefinite stay. Hopefully only a year, but I won't have an exact date. If there are cancellation fees, I'll compensate you for them once I get paid."

That smile downgraded to its regular semi-formed state. "Where do you plan on working?"

"At King's construction."

My parents shared a look before my mom added, "With Trevor?"

"They had a job opening and we've both discussed it, and it's a good fit for now."

"So you've changed your mind about Caleb?" she asked.

How did that thought occur if I was flying out to him in a year? Did she assume we wouldn't pull off long-distance?

"No, I'm doing this to move out to Australia to be with him. Canadian wages are higher and the visas aren't cheap."

Lines dug into her brow like run-off channels in the mud. "And what will you do out there?"

I held my breath, knowing my answer would get us into the same tired argument.

"Diving. Caleb lives near Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef. There are many dive companies there."

My parents' gazes met again, their eyebrows stern. And as my mom went to speak, I cut her off.

"I know your thoughts on diving as a career and that there are plenty of more lucrative options, but it makes me happy in ways that very few other things do. If I have to work two jobs, so be it. At least I'll love my career, and Caleb supports me 100%, not financially, just so we're clear."

My mom's mouth opened, but my dad chimed in. "I look forward to seeing the pictures you'll share."

I let out a breath of relief. Maybe this year wouldn't be as unbearable as I expected.

Here's the letter Caleb wrote as Audrey was meeting with Trevor and he rebooked his flight. Credit to Canva and Kuning Jeruk Studio for the template. As sad as these chapters were to write, I loved finding ways that they could create gifts and memories for each other. 

This is the second of two updates today, so if you missed the airport goodbye, it is in chapter 54.

We're almost at the end. I added an extra scene to this original chapter and had to split it so there will be one more chapter of the book to round out Audrey's arc and then the epilogue. I'm hoping to post them together and will see if I can get it all done by the end of the month or April at the latest.

Thanks again for reading! You really are the driving force of this book and I couldn't do this without you <3